Legislators OK Vietnam vets bills
The Texas House of Representatives and Senate both passed resolutions proclaiming Saturday, April 9, 2011, as Welcome Home South Texas Vietnam Veterans Day, bringing the total number of proclamations for this historic event to 34 with more scheduled in the coming weeks, project spokesman Brian Godinez announced in a written statement. He noted that on April 9, thousands of veterans and others will attend an all-day tribute at the McAllen Convention Center. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. at this free event.
Godinez said that Rep. Sergio Muñoz Jr., D-Palmview, co-authored HCR 56 with the entire Valley Legislative delegation. The measure passed the House on Tuesday. Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-Mission, successfully sponsored the legislation in the Senate on Wednesday. Passage of Tuesday’s resolution was followed by a reception at the Capitol. Munoz is a member of the Texas Veterans Caucus.
“This is a long overdue tribute to our veterans. We’re glad to have been a part of it here at the Capitol,” Muñoz said.
Hinojosa, a veteran, said he was honored to sponsor the legislation in the Senate. “I understand the sacrifices that were made and the pain that still exists for many. I am proud to be a part of this endeavor and I look forward to this special tribute,” Hinojosa said. Details about the tribute will be released soon.
Rep. Rene O. Oliveira, D-Brownsville, was actively involved in changes to H.B. 12, the Sanctuary Cities Bill currently being considered by the House State Affairs Committee. He is working to exclude school districts and their employees from the bill that prohibits governmental entities from adopting a policy prohibiting employees from investigating the immigration status of an individual.
Oliveira noted that the bill would penalize a school district by taking away funding for the subsequent fiscal year if it were in violation. Oliveira pointed out that the bill also would run afoul of federal law and said that it could have terrible repercussions.
“Every child has a right to a public education in this country. The Texas public schools are not the appropriate place to enforce federal immigration,” he said.
Oliveira also filed HJR 134 that proposes a constitutional amendment to regulate land development if approved by a majority vote in a county election. It provides counties a mechanism with which to prevent proliferation of substandard development in unincorporated areas of the county.
Additionally, he filed H.B. 3190, a similar measure to enforce development regulations in counties. “As Texas counties make the transition from rural to more urban, we need to have measures in place that allow for good development,” Oliveira said.
Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville, also filed a series of bills that would provide counties with the necessary authority to regulate development and stop the proliferation of substandard housing in unincorporated areas.
“These bills are long overdue for our counties, especially along the Texas-Mexico border where we have the greatest number of colonias in the nation,” Lucio said. The bills are:
— SB 1363, which would impact all Texas-Mexico border counties.
— SB 1364, which would impact Hidalgo and Cameron Counties.
— SB 1392, which would impact all Texas counties.
— SJR 40, which would afford Texans the opportunity to vote for a constitutional amendment to allow the counties to hold local elections on the issue of whether to give counties limited authority to regulate development.
“This is a local control issue. The elected representatives of the people should write the rulebook when it comes to development and safety, not unelected, unscrupulous developers,” Lucio said.
Lucio also filed a package of measures that would give greater protections to homebuyers. Lucio said that SB 1319 and SB 1320 will give greater security to Texans by leveling the playing field and providing some fundamental safeguards.
“Texans are too often left to fend for themselves when trying to buy a home. It is wrong to allow those driven by profit to exploit the desire of Texas families to have their own piece of the American dream,” he said.
He said that SB 1319 addresses abusive loan-servicing practices by non-federally related mortgage loan providers, and that while many servicers are ethical, some misapply payments, ignore requests for information and abruptly foreclose on homes rather than work to resolve the problem.
eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com
